Combined water, vacuum, and pressure gage, automatic regulator, and safety device.



W. T. FOWDEN.

COMBINED WATER, VAGUUM, AND PRESSURE GAGHAUTOMATIG REGULATOR, AND SAFETY DEVIGE.

APPLICATION FILED HAY 31,1910.

Patented Mar. 21, 1911 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

INVENTOR I wlmsssss I 'ATtISMYsf W. T. POWDEN.

UOMBINED WATER, VAGUUM, AND PRESSURE GAGE AUTOMATIC REGULATOR, AND SAFETY DEVICE.

Patented Mar. 21, 1911.

Y APPLICATION FILED MAY 31 987.1 25.

2 SHEETSSHBET 2 la/ll m mull w r I n 1 l l l lllllllllI ATTURNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT Ol hltllil.

WILLIAM T. FOWDEN, OF CHESTER PENNSYLVANIA.

COMBINED WATER. VACUUM, AND PRESSURE GAGE, AUTOMATIC REGULATOR, AND

- SAFETY DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mai". 21, 191 1 Application filed 31, 1910. Serial No. 564,254.

To all whom it may concern:

lie it known that I, WiLLiAM 'l. Fo'wnes, citiyen of the United States, residing in the city of Chester, county of Delawaiw,

5 State of Pennsylvania, have invented. a new and useful Combined Water, Vacuum, and. Pressure Gage, Automatic Regulator, and "v Device, of which the following a. r alien.

1 My present. invention relates to a regu ilatii'ig mechanism which is adapted for a lurgevariet y of uses and is especially adapted to be employed for regulating theintroduiation of air for draft, and the exit of prod- 1 upts of combustion from furnaces, although it is to be understood that it is not lim- -ited to such use, although I have found? my novel device to be particularly adapted to be employed in conjunction with vacuum or atmosphe 'ic vapor heating devices.

To the above ends my invention consists of a novel water, vacuum and pressure gage, automatic regulator and safety device, which forms aconcre'te unitary structure.

' It further consists of a novel construction of' a water, vacuum and pressure gage wherein is indicated the height of Water in the boiler or other device, the amount of pressure being carried and the vacuum-obtained, and in conjunction with which a safety valve is employed whereby any excess in pressure is automatically relieved.

It further consists of a." novel water,

vacuum and pressure gage which forms a concrete unitary device and wherein suitable cocks are provided whereby the water line can be positively tested, and means are provided for suitably securing the device so that the same will be maintained plumb and 4 level.

.It further consists of a novel regulator which' canbe applied to any system or under any conditions in which a low pressure is required foncontrolling valvesor dainpers. y

It further consists of other novel features of construction, all as will be hereinafter fully set forth. v

l or thcpurpose of illustrating my invention, I have shown in the accompanying drawings one form thereof whichis at pres- I 'ent preferred by me, since the same has been found in practice to givesatisfactory and:

, Lelia-blo results, although itis to bennder; i5 stood that tlievarious instrumentaht es of which my invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and. that my invention is not limited. to the precise arrungcimxnt. and organization of these instrumentalities as herein shown and described.

Figure 1 represents a side elevation of-a water, vacuum and pressure gage, automatic regulator and safety device, embodying my invention. Fig. 2 represents a sectional view of a portion. of a :turnai're showing more especially the manner in which the cable will be connected thereto. Fig. 3 represents a sectional view showing a portion of the valve controlled flue or stack to which the other cable, seen in Fig. 1,. would be connected. Fig. 41- represents an end elevation of my device. Fig. 5 represents a sectional view showing on an enlarged scale the air relief valve employed. Fig. 6 represents a top plan view of my device. Fig. 7 represents a section on line a*a" Fig. 1; lfiig. 8 represents a section on line y-3/, Fig. 1. Fig. 9 represents a plan view of a' portion of the device showing more clearly the pivotal member which when employed cooperates with the relief valve.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the figures.

Referring to the drawings:.l designates a casin or framework, which is adapted to carry s ll-of the parts of my invention, said framework being provided with the water column 2 provided with a gage glass 3; and 4E designates the point at which the .water should be carried in the boiler.

{5 and 6 designate respectively. upper and lower gage cocks which can he closed in case of the breaking of the gage glass 3.

7 and'8 designate respectively upper and lower gage cocks which are employed to test the Water or stcaniliue in the boiler in case there should be a SlJOIJPflgG in the valve cocks 5 and 6.

The casing 1 has connected therewith a chambered casing member 9., which coinmunicates, by means of-the passage 10, with the. water column 2. Y

ll designates a gage glass, the lowerportion of which forms a vacuum gage 12, and the casing is calibrated, as indicated at 1.3,

to indicate the vacuum obtained in inches or ounces-or any other desired measurement.

The upper portion of the gage glass 11 forms the-pressure gage It and the casing is calibrated, as is indicated at 15, in order to in dicate the amount of pressure being carried either in inches, ounces or other desired measurement. The gage glass 11 is provided at opposite ends with the valves 16 and 17 respectively, whereby the same may be shut oil in case of any breakage of the gage glass 11 or when it is desired to remove the gage glass for cleaning or other purposes.

18 designates a float which is located within the chambered member 9 and mounted on shaft 19 so that the hollow ball or float 18 will rise or fall in accordance with the rise or fall of water in said chamber 9. The shaft 19 is mounted in the journals 20 and 21, a suitable packing nut 22 being provided, whereby leakage at such point is positively prevented. The shaft 19 has mounted thereon a lever 23 which, as will be clearly understood by reference to Fig. 1, is provided with a plurality of holes 25 whereby the chains or-eonnections 26 and 27respectively may be adjustably secured thereto when my novel construction of regulatoris to be employed to regulate combustion in furnaces. In order to control the exit of the-products of combustion from the furnace the connection 27 will be suitably secured toth door 28 or other control for the introdue" tion of air for draft, while the connection 26 will be connected to the damper 29 in the flue 30 through which the products of combustion pass from the furnace, although it is of course to be understood that I have simply shown- Figs. 2 and 3 in order to clearly illustrate one manner in which my novelregulator may be employed, and the same is not limited to the controlof combustionin furnaces but can be employed in all cases where a low pressure is required for controlling valves or other devices.

31 designates a safety valve provided with a controlling arm 32 which is pivotally supported at 33 in such a mann to control the movement of the safet'yJ-l controlling arm being provided with-an adjustable counterbalance 51 and the end of saidarm passing through the aperture 34 in the air relief valve 35, which latter is.

mounted in a casing 36 having threaded engagement with the cover plate 37 of the chambered member 9. The upper end of the casing 36 is provided with the portsor' recesses 38 and the valve 35 is of less diametcr than .the internal diameter oi the casing 36 so that when the parts are in the position seen in Fig; 5 the air may pass around the valve stem 35 and through the ports 38 to the atmosphere. The lower end of the valve stem 35 has secured thereto in any desired manner one or more washers 39, the same being retained in posit on in the present instance by means of the fastening device 10. The washer nearest the casing 36 is preferably made-ofresilient material.

iv'e stem, said 1 41 designatcs'a plate or member which is I pivotally supported at 42 in such a manner that it may freely move up and down, its downward movement being suitably limited and this member is located. in aline ment with the lower end of the valve 35 so thatwhen the float 18'reaches its highest position it will contact with the plate or member 41, causing the same to engage the lower end of the valve 35 so that the latter will be raised until the washer 39 contacts with thelower end of the casing 36. In many cases, arisingin practice, it is not necessaryto employ the member 41 and this is simply used in order to provide for the proper actuatioh of the valve 35 by the float 18, since in sdrne cases the float does not always travel in the same path.

My novel construction of regulator is se L either at the'bottom of the boiler or at any point within the boiler preferably below the water line, where it will be freed from sediment,

17 designates a pipe or conduit which is connected with the water column and also with the boiler by means of the conduit 48.

The casing 1 is provided ,with an extensi0n52.

The safety valve 31 is provided with an outlet 50. g

If desired, the lever 23 may be provided with a suitable counterbalance 53.

The operation of my novel water,vacu umand pressure gage will now be readily apparent to those skilled in this art and is as follows :'-Assumingthat the regulator is to -be employed in connection with atmospheric vapor heating systems, the water is fed into the boiler until it reaches the point indicated at 4 .inthe water column 2, before starting afire. nected with the draft door 28 or other means The connection 27 is con for controlling the draft for combustion, and the connection 26 is connected with the damper 29'which controls the exit of the products of combustion from the furnace. The draft door at this time is open and the flue damper will also be open. After the I fire is started and the pressure increases .it

will displace the "water in the chamberedv casing 9 and the float 18 will be raised and owing to the manner in which it is operatively connectedwith the lever 23, such lever will be rocked, thereby actuating the connections 26 and 27 and the draft door 28 will .be closed and the damper 29 will be closed. When the pressure begins to lower,

the above described action will be reversed and at thesame time the water will hold" the same water level as'betore with a very slight Vill'lllilOh on account of the pressure through the conduit 48 being equalized by the pressure through the conduit 4L6 in conphere; It the pressure in the boiler increases the water will still continue to e):- pand m the casing and the float 18 will be raised until. it reaches the bottom of the pis-' ton or the member 41, in case such member is employed, and this will cause the piston to rise, andsincethe controlling lever 32 of the safety valve 31 is connected with the piston 35, as soon as the float, 18 comes into contactwith such piston the piston will be raised, the result or" which will be that the washer 89 will engage the lower end of the cylinder 36 and prevent any escape of water from the chamber within the casing 9. the same time the controlling lever SQ'Wlll he raised, thereby allowing the safety valve 31 to open and the fluid to flow out at 50. In case the water should fall in the boiler, the steam or vapor would fiow around through the passage 10 into the chamber in the casing 9, so that the vapor or steam.-will pass out around the piston or valve 35 to the atmosphere and serve as a tell-tale or indicator at all times whether or not there be any pressure, and should there be any pressure, the water inthe bottom of the boiler would raise the float even under these conditions, and close the damper and should the tloat 18, for any reason, become detached from its red it would tloat up in the same manner as if it were attached and coming into contact with the piston or valve 35 the controlling lever-Would be raised, thereby permitting any excess in pressure to be relieved so that. under all conditions arising in practice a safety device is provided which is automatically actuated.

The vacuun'i indicator can be, changed by placinp' the regulator either above or below the water line by increasing or shortening the length of the conduits 4 .6 and 47, as is apparent.

it will be apparent from Fig. .i that. the only communication between the chamber 2 and the casin 9 in the water column is the passage 10, as shown most clearly in Fig.

It will now be apparent that I have devised a noveland useful construction of a,

combined water, vacuum and pressure gage, automatic regulator and safety novice, which embodies the features of advantage enumerated as desirable in the statement of the invention and the above description, and while I have, in the present instance, shown and described a preferred embrubment thereof which has been found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, it is to be understood that the same is susceptible of modification in various particulars without departing tron i the spirit or scope of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as ne and desire to. secure by Letters Patent, is: a

l. in a regulating mechanism, a casing having a chamber and provided with awater column in communication therewitln, a fafety valve for the water column, a relief valve for the chamber normally maintained in open. position, and a device controlled by, 80 the rise and fall of fluid within the chamber" for simultaneously closing the relief valve and opening thesat'ety valve. 2. In ,a regulating mechanism, a casing having a pressure chamber and provided with a water column in communication therewith, a relief valve for said chamber and normally maintained in open position, a float within said chamber for closing said valve, regulating mechai'iism controlled by. said fioatand a safety valve for controlling steam pressure on the water column and actuated by said relief. valve.

8. In a regulating mechanism, a casin having a pressure chamber and providetlfla with a water column in communication therewith, a relief valve for said chamber and normally maintained in open position,

a float within said chamber. a movable member valve and said float and located intermediate said float and valve ,whereby the latterwill be positively closed when said float is in raised position, and regulating mechanism controlled by said float.

i. In a regulating mechanism, a casing having; a pressure chamber and provided with a water column in communication therewith, a gage for said c lunch, a vacuum and pressure for said chamber a relief valve for the pressure chamber normally maintained in open position, a float within said chamber for closing said relief valve, a shaft operatively connected with said float, and a safety valve for said water column and ctuitrolled by said float. y p

5. la a regulating J'z'iechanisin, a casing having a pressure chamber and provided with a Water column in cormnunication therewith, a. plurality of conduits leading from said watc column, valves within said, water column, a device within said chamber and controlled by the rise and fall of fluid therein, a movable member exterior of said casing actuated by said device, a safety valve for the water column and a relief valve for the pressure chamber normally maintained iuopen position, said safety and. relief valves being simultaneously actuated by said device.

ing with said Water column, a float Within sald chamber, a relief valve for said chamber controlled by said float, and mechanism actuated by said float.

7. In a regulating mechanism, a casing having a chamber therein and provided with;

a Water column in communication with said chamber, conduits communicating with said.

Water column, a safety valve communicating with said water-column, a float within said chamber and controlling said safety valve, a relief valve for said chamber controlled by said float, and mechanism actuated by said float.

8-. In a regulating mechanism, a casing provided with a water column and having a chamber communicating at its lower end with said water column, a water gage for said column, a vacuum and pressure gage for said chamber, a float within said chamber, a shaft on which said float is mounted, a lever carried by said shaft, a relief valve normally maintained in open position and adapted to be closed by said float and a safety valve actuated by said relief valve.

9. In a regulating mechanism, a casing provided with a Water column and having a chamber communicating at its lower end with said water column, a water gage for said column, a vacuum and pressure gage for said chamber, a float within said chamber, a shaft on which said float is mounted, a lever carried by said shaft, a relief valve normally maintained in open position and ada ted to be closed by said float, cables ad iustably connected with said lever, a safety valve for thewater column, and means controlled by said float for controllin said safety valve.

10. n a regulating mechanism, a casing having a water columnand provided with a chamber in communication therewith, a water gage for'the water column, a vacuum and pressure gage for said chamber, a float within said chamber, a shaft actuated by said float, a safety valve communicating with the water column, a movable member controlling the opening of said safety valve, and a relief valve .-normally maintained in open position and adapted to be closed by said float and controlling said movable member.

11. In a regulating mechanism, a casing having a water column and provided with a chamber in communication with the lower end of said water column, a water gage for said water column, a vacuum and pressure gage for said water chamber, afloat with in said chamber, a shaft actuated by said float, a bar carried by said shaft, cables adjustably connected with said bar, a counterbalance for said bar, a safety device in communication Wit-h said Water column, a

,movable member controlling said safety device, a relief valve in communication with said chamber and controlled by said float and controlling said movable member, and a counterbalance for said member.

WILLIAM FOWDEN. 

